More Indonesian Patrols In New Guinea Area

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29734, 30 January 1962, Page 12

More Indonesian Patrols In New Guinea Area

(N.Z.P .A.-Reuter-Copyright)

NEW YORK, January 29.

The Indonesian Military Commander (Major-General Ahmad Jani) said on a television programme broadcast in New York yesterday that Indonesia would in the near future increase and strengthen patrol activities in the West New Guinea area.

“We have confidence in our Navy and Air Force.” he said. "The world must never underestimate our strength.” General Jani said that most of the 500 million dollars worth of Soviet bloc military aid to Indonesia had already been delivered. Asked whether he expected Moscow or Peking to intervene in the West New Guinea dispute, he said: “I do not know what Russia and China are going to do. If they do. then for us the situation becomes complicated.”

General Jani said that so far, Indonesia had not launched any landings in the territory, and the “so-called infiltration by Indonesians” had been by youngsters who were expelled by the Dutch and then had tried to return to West New Guinea. Asked how Indonesia was going to react to the recent naval clash in which at least one Indonesian patrol vessel was sunk by she Dutch, he said: “We can do many things, but I think most important is that we keep our head cool, though we burn from inside.

“One of the things in mention is that in the near future we have to increase our patrol activities and also reinforce the strength, and if the two of them meet on the way,' then from our side we can repel any kind of attack from the Dutch side.”

The Indonesian Foreign Minister (Dr. Subandrio) who also was interviewed for the programme in Djakarta, was asked whether he thought a peaceful settlement with the Dutch was still possible, especially after the naval clash.

"To be frank, at this moment it is difficult,” he replied. “But now I think we have to keep the emotion and indignation within bounds.”

Dr. Subandrio said there had been “great pressure” for Indonesian, retaliation, and from some quarters for a declaration of war against the Netherlands.

“Our ships have been attacked 25 miles from the West Irian coast: but, on the other hand, if there is any possibility of having a peaceful settlement, of course our Government wiU not ignore that possibility—even will explore that possibility.”

Private Talks

The acting SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations (U Thant) has been having private separate talks with Dutch and Indonesian representatives in New York, and the Netherlands resident representative to the organisation (Mr Carl Schurmann) also was interviewed for yesterday’s programme. He repeated the Dutch Government’s view that the Papuan inhabitants of West New Guinea must be afforded the opportunity to decide for themselves what was to be its future status. "If they want to join Indonesia, it is perfectly all right with us.” Mr Schuemann said. “But they must say so for themselves. “The sooner we can get out the better,” he said. “All we want to do is to make sure that the papulation will decide for itself whether it wishes to join Indonesia.”

Dr. Subandrio was asked about Australia’s reported fear that Indonesia would try to take over the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, which Canberra administers under United Nations trusteeship, and British North Borneo and Sarawak. “I am not sure whether that fear is sincere or whether they are pretexts against the transfer or recog-

irition at West Irian (West New Guinea) as part of the Indonesian administration,” the Foreign Minister replied. He said Indonesia had fold Australia, and was prepared to repeat in a formal agreement, that it bad no ambitions towards the eastern part of New Guinea.